Cross Hatch Cross

Inspired by artistic research into Kew’s Economic Botany Collection, Nash has branded some of his new work, such as Cross Hatch Cross, with simple motifs.

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Making Cross Hatch Cross

Date and material

2012
Oak

Branding Cross Hatch Cross

Branding techniques

Kew's Economic Botany Collection contains over 85,000 plant artefacts from around the world. It is especially rich in indigenous artefacts, such as this Australian aboriginal ‘passport’. To Nash, the zigzag lines on this object suggested branding marks made with hot metal. So, he made his own branding equipment to create this effect on his sculpture. Nash heats up these tools in a kiln before using them on prepared pieces of wood.

An aboriginal 'passport' from Kew's Economic Botany Collection

An Australian aboriginal ‘passport’

This wooden passport, otherwise known as a marben, is labelled; ‘Passport of the Mandajugana tribe (Hill Country) to the gnalluma (?) tribe; living between Yule and Sherlock Rivers.’ It originates from Western Australia and is heavy and tactile, and made from eucalyptus. It would have been carried by someone who was moving into the territory of another tribe. You can see this artefact on display in Gallery 4 in the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art.